Aston Martin is today
revealing full details of the latest major enhancements to its
iconic Sports GT car, the luxurious and potent DB9.

Appearing hot on the heels of the all-new Vanquish Super GT, the
introduction of 13 Model Year DB9 gives the British luxury sports
car maker the perfect opportunity to further enrich the appeal of
its mainstay in the GT sector, with significant developments
affecting styling inside and out, plus key changes under the new
DB9’s classically beautiful ‘skin’.

The styling changes see DB9 adopt an even more lithe, fluid and pure
form reminiscent of the outgoing Aston Martin Virage which ceases
production with immediate effect. Taking a classic Aston Martin GT
silhouette as its base, the new DB9 adds a more pronounced rear boot
‘flip’ to further enhance the aerodynamic performance of the car.

The exterior design of the DB9 communicates a powerfully assertive
yet elegant character. The surfaces display taut lines and subtle
muscular forms that point to the underlying power of this renowned
Sports GT.

DB9 sits low and wide, visually ‘planting’ the car on the road,
communicating a clearly athletic stance. The car’s inherent width is
accentuated by the ‘light catcher’ feature which runs from the lower
front bumper and continues along the sill of the car creating a
chiselled, determined look.

Available from launch in either Coupe or Volante body styles, DB9
13MY clearly has a strong breadth of appeal.

Bi-xenon headlamps provide the car with a clear focus, while subtle
feature lines run along and underneath the headlamps, visually
widening the car.

A large lower front grille feeds air into the standard Carbon
Ceramic Braking system, while the front splitter also serves to
visually widen the car. For those DB9 buyers in search of an even
more sporty appearance there is now a carbon fibre front splitter
available as part of the exterior Carbon Pack.

Look a little closer and the true beauty of the DB9’s details
becomes apparent. The front grille, for instance – inspired by the
design of Aston Martin’s sold-out One-77 hypercar – features five
horizontal vanes which are chamfered to create an aerofoil profile.
Meanwhile the bonnet vents are authentic zinc with distinctive
vanes. These, along with the new grille and pronounced side strakes,
are classic Aston Martin design cues.

DB9 13MY also features Aston Martin’s integrated side strake and LED
side-repeaters. The long strake accentuates the lean, long lines of
the DB9’s nose. Once again, Aston Martin’s craftsmanship is clearly
demonstrated in the use of metal grilles and clean lines of the
polished metal castings.

At the rear of the car, the DB9’s wide track width and muscular rear
haunches clearly communicate the power delivered at the rear wheels.

Inside, as out, the revised DB9 becomes yet more elegant and more
luxurious. Unmistakably Aston Martin, the Sports GT’s
opulently-appointed interior boasts authentic materials and the
highest levels of attention to detail.

For instance, DB9 13MY comes with a stunning leather welt feature
first seen on Virage. Inspired by luxury leather goods, the welts
have been designed and developed by Aston Martin’s master craftsmen.
Requiring meticulous levels of control to hand stitch and
specially-developed manufacturing facilities, the welts are created
by sandwiching a narrow strip of leather between two opposing
leather seat panels, and fixed using precise stitching.

A further demonstration of Aston Martin’s renowned attention to
detail and craftsmanship can be seen in the jewel-like glass
switchgear used throughout the interior of the revised DB9. Details
such as these glass switches clearly demonstrate the luxury sports
car maker’s commitment to the use of authentic, high value
materials.

Those DB9 buyers seeking an even more sporting ambience inside might
be tempted by an additional interior option on DB9 13MY – Aston
Martin’s lightweight seats. These are available when the 2+0 seating
option is selected and use a state-of-the-art carbon fibre and
Kevlar® composite structure.

When specified, the seats save 17kg per car as well as offering
occupants more support at the shoulders. This improves comfort and
reduces stress on the back during long stints of focused dynamic
driving in particular.

Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer Dr Ulrich Bez said: “I am very
excited to be unveiling the new DB9 now. My team here at Gaydon has
been working hard for many months to improve and update key aspects
of this superb Sports GT – the mainstay of our sports car range –
and I believe the results to be exceptional.

“Aside from the undeniably beautiful exterior styling and now even
more luxurious interior, there are many important and impressive
engineering changes that demonstrate Aston Martin’s renowned ability
to create compelling cars in the modern era.”

Engineering – great British
innovation

This DB9 sees the
introduction of the new generation AM11 V12 engine. The new V12
takes some of the ‘Gen4’ VH architecture hardware technology
developed for Aston Martin’s forthcoming all-new super GT, the
Vanquish, but has been tuned to suit the character of DB9. The
result is an engine with effortless torque of up to 620 Nm and peak
power of 517 PS – both significantly improved versus the outgoing
unit.

Key features of the AM11 unit include a revised block and new head
including dual variable valve timing, enlarged throttle bodies,
uprated fuel pump, revised intake manifold and machined combustion
chambers.

Meanwhile, DB9 13MY achieves compliance with the latest European
pedestrian protection regulations and does so in a new way that is
without any compromise to the exterior design of the car and does
without the need for otherwise surplus deployable systems.

To accomplish this, Aston Martin’s designers and engineers have
worked together to make significant changes to the underbody
structure of the car including a lowered engine, new bonnet, front
bumper construction and grille surround moulding.

Their resulting design is the subject of patent pending applications
and enables the grille to move rearwards on impact, whilst the
central and outboard chin stiffeners give rigidity to the lower
structure and support achievement of the leg impact regulations.
Cut-outs on the front wing catwalks contribute to the achievement of
the headform regulation.

This means Aston Martin is able to avoid conventional solutions such
as the use of plastic grilles and straightforward nose cone bumpers
that stretch up in front of the bonnet. Instead, it has created a
clever new and bespoke solution that preserves the unmistakable
visual appeal of the VH architecture leading edge bonnet and its
extruded aluminium grille.

Dr Bez said: “The new AM11 V12 engine together with our unique and
patent pending solution for enhanced pedestrian protection – these
are clear examples of the engineering excellence that continues to
make Aston Martin the creator of the most desired and admired luxury
sports cars in the world.”

Chassis – important upgrades all
round

The DB9 13MY boasts a
number of important enhancements over the outgoing car’s already
impressive inventory. The braking system, for instance, now uses as
standard Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) discs and callipers supplied by
acknowledged global brake experts Brembo.

While this DB9 offers a refined, comfortable sports GT driving
experience, the new carbon brakes provide the confidence and
reassurance of reduced brake fade when pressing the car to its
sports capability.

CCM consists of a compound of carbon fibre which is impregnated with
silicon, injected into a mould and baked at ultra-high temperature.
The resulting material is not only much tougher than conventional
cast iron discs but also dissipates heat more rapidly to provide
reduced fading.

The brake rotors, (398mm diameter at the front, 360mm at the rear),
are mounted onto the bespoke disc bells using a ‘floating disc’
system. This allows the discs to flex relative to their mountings
thereby making them less prone to ‘judder’.

The discs are cross-drilled to help keep the brake pads clean while
also helping to ensure that gases emitted by the pads during braking
do not build up between the pad and disc surface. The holes also
help to cool the surface of the pads and the discs themselves. Air
intakes mounted behind the lower front grille also force feed air
into the brake discs to aid cooling.

Saving around 12.5 kg versus a conventional cast iron system the
DB9’s CCM brakes not only reduce overall vehicle weight but also
mean that a better balance between ride comfort and handling can be
struck. The lower rotational mass also gives improved acceleration,
braking and steering feel.

The luxury sports car also boasts Aston Martin’s ‘Gen4’ VH
architecture version of the brand’s Adaptive Damping System (ADS).
This next generation ADS has been enhanced to include three modes:
Normal, Sport and Track.

In ‘Normal’ mode, the damping is set to deliver the greatest ride
comfort, with the electronically controlled dampers automatically
adjusting to provide the optimum settings to suit driver input,
speed and the road surface quality. In ‘Sport’ mode, the damping is
set-up to be more focused at delivering sharper handling and control
during dynamic driving while in the ‘Track’ mode the damping
operates within the range of its stiffest settings.

The different damping modes available help appreciably broaden DB9’s
character, adapting its set-up to suit the driver’s requirements in
different contexts. It can be a comfortable and compliant GT car in
Normal mode as well as being a firm and direct sports car in Sport
setting and offering highly precise flat cornering in Track mode.

Equipment – luxury comes as
standard

As befits a luxury GT in
this class DB9 13MY of course features convenience items such as
automatic headlights, now operated by a new master switch unit
control panel located on the lower instrument panel beneath the
driver’s side air-vent.

Automatic windscreen wipers are also a standard-fit feature, with
their operation triggered by a rain sensor built into the header pod
in front of the rear-view mirror.

DB9 13MY features the optional reversing camera currently available
on the Rapide four-door sports car and forthcoming Vanquish super
GT. The camera – standard in the US market – is integrated into the
rear boot lid above the number plate, with the image visible on the
LCD screen folding out of the centre stack. The reversing camera is
activated when reverse gear is selected and is deactivated once the
car is driving forwards at more than 5 mph.

Meanwhile there are two Carbon Packs introduced on DB9 13MY – one
exterior and one interior – to offer further personalisation
possibilities. All of the carbon fibre has a 2 x 2 twill design that
is finished with a clear lacquer.

Buyers can opt for either Aston Martin wings or DB9 headrest
embroidery. The DB9 embroidery design has been refreshed and also
has a new stitch pattern on 13MY cars.

Finally, a leather headlining is now available as an option on DB9.
The large central panel of the headlining can be finished in
leather, while the cant rail trim and header trim remain
Alcantara-coloured.

Summarising the significantly enhanced appeal of the DB9 13MY,
product manager Andy Haslam said: “DB9 has, rightly, been positioned
at the hub of our GT segment offerings for some years now.

“The introduction of this significantly enhanced 13MY car means
Aston Martin buyers have a very clear and compelling model line-up
from which to choose.

“Taking the best elements of Virage, adding important new upgrades
and combining these with the iconic DB9 nomenclature we have created
a compelling new Sports GT that sits proudly at the very heart of
the Aston Martin sports car range.

“With the exceptional new Vanquish super GT occupying the top of the
range, there is now a clear and logical step from DB9.”

DB9 13MY is available to order now through Aston Martin dealers
worldwide, with the first cars making their market debuts in UK and
Western Europe in October. Prices are confirmed as £131,995 (UK RRP);
€174,994 (German RRP); $185,400 (USA MSRP); and 21,995,000 JPY
(Japan RRP).